Event Abstract Back to Event Detection of extracellular potentials using a mechanical-based nanosensor Implantable high density microelectrode arrays hold enormous promise as tools for understanding neuronal circuits in vivo. At present, a limitation of this technology arises in signal extraction from the recording site to the macro-scale. This is typically carried out via lithographically defined wiring. In order to minimise tissue damage, higher density electrode arrays will require narrower wiring with submicron dimensions. However, the effects of impedance and capacitive coupling prohibit an arbitrary reduction in size. Realising ultra-high resolution extracellular recordings over large volumes will thus require novel methods of signal extraction. Here we present a new paradigm that allows parallel signal extraction from potentially hundreds to thousands of electrodes through a single output, by transducing signals in the frequency-domain. Our approach relies on the use of nanoscale, piezoelectrically coupled transducers known as D-NEMS (depletion-mode nanoelectromechanical systems). A key feature of these devices is that they exhibit mechanical resonance effects; their precise structural dimensions determine their characteristic vibrational frequencies. The piezoelectric effect enables conversion of an electric field into mechanical strain. The devices we constructed were beam structures of different lengths, analogous to the strings on a guitar. Each beam was coupled to a different microelectrode, and as they were of varying lengths, they exhibited dissimilar resonant frequencies when driven in the RF range. Much like the tones of guitar strings can be modulated by stress, a voltage applied through the coupled microelectrode can be used to shift the vibrational frequency of the piezoelectric beam resonator by altering the tension within it. This presentation discusses our early attempts to harness this effect to develop a nanoscale, mechanical-based detection scheme for extracellular potentials. In a proof-of-concept experiment, the mechanical displacement of the resonators were measured in parallel using laser interferometry. All mechanical transduction thus occurred via a single, optical signal transmission path. As the fundamental frequency of each microelectrode-coupled resonator is set much further apart than the variation that occurs during signal detection, each of the microelectrodes is addressable. The mechanical response is linear, and thus microelectrode signals can be transduced back into an amplitude post-extraction. Extracellular action potentials in the thoracic ganglia of the locust were successfully recorded using the frequency modulation scheme, with our devices coupled to multi-channel neural probes. In addition, multiplexed voltage detection was demonstrated with two recording electrodes coupled to separate piezoelectric resonators. Finally, the response of the system was systematically characterised, and its limitations and prospects for improvement are presented. Conference: Computational and systems neuroscience 2009, Salt Lake City, UT, United States, 26 Feb - 3 Mar, 2009. Presentation Type: Poster and Short Oral Presentation Topic: Poster and Short Oral Presentations Citation: (2009). Detection of extracellular potentials using a mechanical-based nanosensor. Front. Syst. Neurosci. Conference Abstract: Computational and systems neuroscience 2009. doi: 10.3389/conf.neuro.06.2009.03.304 Copyright: The abstracts in this collection have not been subject to any Frontiers peer review or checks, and are not endorsed by Frontiers. They are made available through the Frontiers publishing platform as a service to conference organizers and presenters. The copyright in the individual abstracts is owned by the author of each abstract or his/her employer unless otherwise stated. Each abstract, as well as the collection of abstracts, are published under a Creative Commons CC-BY 4.0 (attribution) licence (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) and may thus be reproduced, translated, adapted and be the subject of derivative works provided the authors and Frontiers are attributed. For Frontiers’ terms and conditions please see https://www.frontiersin.org/legal/terms-and-conditions. Received: 04 Feb 2009; Published Online: 04 Feb 2009. Login Required This action requires you to be registered with Frontiers and logged in. To register or login click here. Abstract Info Abstract The Authors in Frontiers Google Google Scholar PubMed Related Article in Frontiers Google Scholar PubMed Abstract Close Back to top Javascript is disabled. Please enable Javascript in your browser settings in order to see all the content on this page.